Fall break is a good excuse to spend a weekday at the pumpkin patch, take a short road trip or finally visit that nature center on your list. From fall festivals to quick getaways, here are a few ways to keep the kids busy around Indianapolis while school is out.
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Celebrate fall at the farm
Pick a pumpkin, work your way through a corn maze and leave time for an apple cider slushie. These local farm festivals have plenty to fill an afternoon, but weekday hours vary.
- Tuttle Orchards: The Greenfield orchard’s FarmYard includes wagon rides, a three-acre corn maze, a corn crib and more than 30 activities. Pick pumpkins or stop in the Farm Store for apples. October hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., through Oct. 31. Closed Sundays.
- Beasley’s Orchard: This Danville farm has a corn maze, hayrides to the pumpkin patch, apple cannons and the Barnyard Bonanza activity area. Fall attractions run daily through Nov. 1, with weekday hours of 1 to 6 p.m. Festival weekends add food trucks, music and other activities.
- Russell Farms: Hayrides, two scavenger-hunt corn mazes, a petting zoo, miniature golf and a jumping pillow make this an option for families with kids of different ages. Open Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., through Oct. 31, plus Oct. 14-16 and 21-23 from 1 to 5 p.m. Pumpkins cost extra.
- Kelsay Farms: Visit the Whiteland farm for a corn maze, hayrides, farm animals, a jump pad and the Moo Choo train. Special fall-break hours are noon to 6 p.m. on weekdays Oct. 5-16. The fall season continues through Oct. 25.
Spend a day or an evening at Conner Prairie
- Treetop Outpost: Climb all four stories of the treehouse for a forest view and a seek-and-find challenge at the top, then let the kids dig at the archaeology site, build with oversized bricks, play the outdoor instruments and finish at the Fort Hoosier playground. Only the second level is wheelchair accessible. The treehouse is included with general admission, which is $24 for adults and $18 for ages 2-13 online, or a couple of dollars more at the gate. Conner Prairie is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Nov. 1. The Headless Horseman Festival is a separate evening ticket, so plan two trips if you want both.
- Headless Horseman Festival: Look for the legendary rider on a haunted hayride, then explore carnival games, live performances and fall treats. The festival runs Thursdays through Sundays, Oct. 1-25, from 5 to 10 p.m. The hayride requires an additional $10 ticket, and even members need to reserve festival admission. Choose an earlier hayride if your kids scare easily.
Visit a nature center
A nature center visit can pair time on the trails with indoor exhibits and activities. Start with our guide to nature centers in Central Indiana and choose one your family hasn’t explored. Check the building’s hours before leaving, since they may differ from the surrounding park’s hours.
Take in the fall colors
Pack a picnic and plan a day trip to see fall foliage in Indiana. Brown County State Park has scenic overlooks and wooded roads for families who want the views without committing to a long hike. Much of Indiana typically sees its best color in mid- to late October, but timing varies by location and weather.
Wear those costumes to ZooBoo
ZooBoo at the Indianapolis Zoo gives kids another reason to wear their Halloween costumes, with trick-or-treating, a mirror maze, a potions show and animal visits. Watch the elephants smash pumpkins at 4:30 p.m. on event days.
ZooBoo runs Wednesdays through Sundays, Sept. 23-Nov. 1. Activities begin at 2 p.m. and continue until 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. ZooBoo is included with regular zoo admission and membership.
Climb the treehouses at Flat Fork Creek Park
If Conner Prairie’s admission gives you pause, Flat Fork Creek Park in Fishers has three wooden treehouses tucked into the woods, and the park is free. One sits along the paved trail and is ADA-accessible. The other two take a short walk off the trail and a ladder climb, which is the part the kids will like best. Walk the boardwalk loop for fall color, let them hunt for crawdads in the creek if it’s still warm enough for wet shoes and finish with a run up the 60-foot hill, the tallest point in Hamilton County. The park is at 16141 E. 101st St., Fishers, and is open dawn to dusk. Restrooms are next to the parking lot.
Find your way through a corn maze
Let the kids take a turn with the map at one of these Indiana corn mazes. For younger children, look for a short route or a separate kids’ maze. Older kids may be up for a longer challenge. Check whether admission includes the farm’s other activities before choosing your stop.
Hit the road for a fall day trip
A change of scenery doesn’t have to mean an overnight stay. These outings range from a playground visit to a full day at the farm.
- Try a playground worth the drive: Pick a park outside your usual rotation, pack lunch and let the kids explore. Our guide has options around Indiana, so choose one that fits how far you want to travel.
- Explore Parke County’s covered bridges: The Parke County Covered Bridge Festival runs Oct. 9-18, with food, crafts and vendors across nine communities. The county has 31 historic covered bridges. Choose a festival town and a few nearby bridges to keep the day manageable.
- Meet the alpacas at Heritage Farm: Book an Alpacas Greet & Feed visit for $10 per person, or choose an Alpaca Trek for $45 per adult and $25 per child. Both include time learning about and feeding the animals; the trek adds a walk with an alpaca. Schedule your experience ahead of time, and bring a picnic to enjoy afterward.
- Pick pumpkins at Exploration Acres: South of Lafayette, the farm has an 11-acre pumpkin patch, corn mazes and wagon rides. Open Thursdays through Sundays in October, with the season ending Nov. 1. Gate admission is $17 for ages 13 and up and $14 for ages 6-12, before taxes and fees; children 5 and younger enter free. Pumpkins cost 45 cents per pound. Check the daily hours and ticket options before heading out.
Choose your scare level at The Children’s Museum
The Children’s Museum Guild’s 62nd annual Haunted House, Fright Academy, turns a school for monsters and villains into a Halloween outing. Explore a haunted library, a creepy cafeteria and other rooms on select days Oct. 9-31.
Friendly Hours keep the lights on, with upbeat music, treats and friendly greeters. Frightening Hours add dim lighting, creepy characters and jump scares. Tickets are $9 per person or $8 for museum members. The haunted house requires its own ticket, but regular museum admission is not required. Check the schedule before buying so you get the right experience for your kids.
Make time for the library
A library visit is an easy plan for a rainy afternoon or a day when everyone needs a slower pace. Browse the children’s section, find a spot to read and check the branch calendar for programs during your break. Some activities require registration.
- Central Library: 40 E. St. Clair St., Indianapolis
- Hancock County Public Library, Greenfield: 900 W. McKenzie Road, Greenfield
- Michigan Road Branch Library: 6201 Michigan Road, Indianapolis
- Carmel Clay Public Library, Main Library: 425 E. Main St., Carmel
- Lawrence Branch Library: 7898 Hague Road, Indianapolis
